DATES
SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 1, 2021
LOCATION
SNOW KING RESORT – JACKSON, WY
HOST
WYOMING SPACE GRANT
MEETING INFORMATION
REGISTRATION
There are three registration options this year – Regular, Student, and Virtual. Registration fees are listed below. Registrations received after September 15, 2021, will include a $100 late fee.
- Regular – $535
- Student – $175
- Virtual – $90
- NASA EPSCoR Meeting – $35
All attendees will have full access to all normal meeting sessions. The Regular and Student registration options also include the following:
Snow King Resort Hotel
- Coffee and snack breaks
- Breakfast each day and lunch on Friday (lunch on Thursday and all dinners will be on your own, so you can explore Jackson’s fine dining)
- Reception on Thursday night with hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and night sky viewing with Wyoming Stargazing
- (Optional event) Guided group tour of Yellowstone National Park on Saturday, October 2 – $135 per person, see details below
Cancellations & Refunds: All requests for cancellations or transfers must be submitted in writing to Michele Turner. You may receive a full refund of your conference registration (less a $50 processing fee) for cancellations received by September 15, 2021. Substitutions can be made at any time and must be submitted in writing to Michele Turner.
AGENDA
The final meeting agenda can be found here: 2021 Fall Meeting Agenda (Updated 9/27)
DINING RESERVATIONS
Given the record year Jackson has had so far in terms of tourism, Space Grant guests are strongly encouraged to plan ahead and make reservations whenever possible, especially when dining out. If you would like assistance with making reservations for dining or any other types of activities in the Jackson Hole area, you are welcome to contact the Snow King Resort Adventure Center (307–734–2182). They are located inside the hotel next to the lobby.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
Snow King Resort (400 E. Snow King Ave.) has set aside a large block of hotel rooms for meeting attendees at highly reduced nightly rates. The resort may also have a limited number of luxury condos available. To secure your room, please book by August 31. The resort also charges a $37 resort fee and 9% in taxes per room per night. **If you are having trouble reserving rooms on Tuesday, Saturday, or Sunday, it may help to make reservations for those nights separately and then combine the reservations. Also, the resort has told us to keep trying if you are unable to make reservations on the first try.**
- Double Queen Room – $159/night + resort fee and taxes
- Single King Room – $159/night + resort fee and taxes
- Luxury Condo (if available) – $249–$499/night + resort fee and taxes
Each room/condo has all the usual amenities (WiFi, cable, etc.) and guests have access to a 24-hr fitness center, heated pool, hot tub, and more. The resort also has a full-service restaurant called Hayden’s Post.
To view a map of the Snow King Resort campus, click here.
*For guests planning to stay elsewhere, be sure to book your stay as soon as possible. Hotel rates in the area have been even higher than usual so far this summer.
Double Queen Room
Luxury Condo
TRAVEL INFORMATION
AIRPORT
Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) is located 15 minutes north of town at the base of the Teton Range. It is the the busiest airport in Wyoming and the only commercial airport in the U.S. situated within the boundaries of a national park (Grand Teton National Park). The airport serves multiple airlines with direct flights to/from many major destinations across the United States.
Jackson Hole Airport
Attendees wishing to fly in elsewhere may also consider the following airports (approximate drive times to Jackson are given):
- Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) — 2 hours
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) — 4 hours
- Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) — 5 hours
- Boise Airport (BOI) — 5.5 hours
- Billings Logan International Airport (BIL) — 6 hours
- Denver International Airport (DEN) — 8 hours
TRANSPORTATION
Airport shuttle: For guests staying at Snow King Resort, a direct shuttle is available every ~30 minutes between the airport and the resort. Reservations for the shuttle are required with a minimum of 72-hours notice prior to arrival. To book your spot on the shuttle, please call 307–733–5200 or email reservations@snowking.com. Be sure to provide your flight date/time, flight number, and number of guests.
Other airport options: Car rentals are available at the airport (click here for more info). Additional transportation options in the area include Uber, Lyft, and local taxi services.
Public transit: The Southern Teton Area Rapid Transit (START) public bus system provides free rides within the Jackson town limits and paid service to surrounding locations. Jackson is small enough that most places in town are within walking distance of the resort.
PARKING
Overnight parking at Snow King Resort is free for guests staying at the resort. Guests not staying at the resort may park there for free only during daylight hours. Nearby street parking is also available.
GROUP TOUR OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (OPTIONAL)
Date: Saturday, October 2, 2021
Cost: $135 per person (claim your spot when registering for the meeting)
Description: Combine two national parks in one day—Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. Set out from Jackson Hole and benefit from the expertise of a guide who knows the terrain. You’ll spend most of your time viewing the highlights of America’s first national park: Old Faithful geyser, Artist Point, Yellowstone Lake, and more. Bring binoculars to keep an eye out for wildlife and other natural wonders. This will be an all-day tour of the Yellowstone National Park Lower Loop, with a boxed lunch included. The excursion will begin and end with a drive through Grand Teton National Park.
This event will be hosted by USA Park Tours (click here to access full PDF description of tour).
ABOUT JACKSON HOLE
GENERAL INFORMATION
The town of Jackson is home to about 10,000 residents. It sits near the southern end of Jackson Hole, a large valley between the Teton Range to the west and the Gros Ventre Range to the east. Although Jackson itself is relatively small (although not by Wyoming standards), the area as a whole sees millions of visitors each summer due primarily to its close proximity to Grand Teton National Park (4 miles north) and Yellowstone National Park (45 miles north).
Because of this, the town has developed a wide variety of food/shopping options and a vibrant town square that hosts a number of art galleries, custom jewelers, and designer clothing retailers. Many restaurants are within walking distance of Snow King and the town square is only seven blocks away. Tourism usually peaks in August but tends to subside quite a bit by late September.
Jackson from the top of Snow King
CLIMATE / HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
The average daily high and low temperatures in Jackson on October 1 are 62°F and 29°F, respectively. Although it is uncommon to see snow in town that early in the season, the surrounding mountains often get snow (sometimes significant snow) by September. In terms of fall foliage, early to mid October tends to be peak season in the Jackson Hole area.
Jackson’s elevation is about 6,200 feet above sea level. The thinner, drier air at this altitude can silently take a physical toll on one’s body throughout the day. Folks coming from lower elevations may occasionally feel short of breath at times, especially when taking part in physical activities.
Here are three tips to help you get the most out of your time in Jackson:
- Drink plenty of water as the dry mountain air can accelerate dehydration
- Wear sunscreen while outdoors since sunburn tends to occur faster than at lower elevations
- Get plenty of sleep to help your body more quickly adjust to the higher altitude
FUN ACTIVITIES & EXCURSIONS
GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK
Park entry fee is $35 for each personal vehicle for 7 days of access to some of the parks more popular locations. However, it is free to drive between Jackson and Moran on US 191. Separate permits are required for all backcountry camping. Carrying bear spray is strongly encouraged for all hikes within the park. Be cognizant of changing weather, drink plenty of water, and wear sunscreen.
For more information on things to do in the park, visit: https://www.nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/things2do.htm
Hiking: http://www.tetonhikingtrails.com/grand-teton-top-10-hikes.htm
Historic Mormon Row (free): https://www.nps.gov/grte/learn/historyculture/mormon.htm
SNOW KING MOUNTAIN SPORTS
Snow King Mountain Sports (located right next to the hotel) operates a number of fun summer activities at the resort. This includes their Cowboy Coaster, Alpine Slide, Scenic Chairlift, Mini-Golf Course, and more. Although they generally shut down weekday operations sometime in September, it is our understanding that they open back up for weekends into October.
For more information, visit: https://snowkingmountain.com/things-to-do-in-jackson-hole-wyoming/
JACKSON HOLE MOUNTAIN RESORT
Located about 15 minutes west of Jackson, the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is one of the premier ski destinations in North America. Like Snow King, they offer many fun summer activities and experiences. Their flagship summer attraction, the Aerial Tram, is unfortunately shut down this summer due to scheduled maintenance. However, they still offer scenic gondola rides, hiking and mountain biking trails, a Via Ferrata, ropes course, and more.
For more information, visit: https://www.jacksonhole.com/summer.html
NATIONAL ELK REFUGE
The 24,700-acre National Elk Refuge, located just north of Jackson, provides critical habitat for a number of species, including elk, bison, pronghorn, swans, eagles, and trout. Guests can stop by the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center at 532 North Cache Street to learn more about the refuge.
For more information, visit: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/national_elk_refuge/
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WILDLIFE ART
The National Museum of Wildlife Art is a Jackson Hole museum holding more than 5,000 artworks representing wild animals from around the world. The museum’s award-winning architecture is known for its amazing synergy with the local landscape. The 51,000 square foot building with its Idaho quartzite facade was inspired by the ruins of Slains Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and echoes the rugged hillside behind the facility. It overlooks the National Elk Refuge and is only 2.5 miles north of Jackson.
For more information, visit: https://www.wildlifeart.org/
OTHER THINGS TO DO
Bike Tours: https://www.tetonmtbike.com/
Hot Air Balloon Flights: https://wyomingballoon.com/
Scenic Boating/Rafting/Float Trips (many options)
Horseback Riding (many options)
Wildlife Tours (many options)
COVID-19 INFORMATION
UPDATE: As of September 4, Teton County and the town of Jackson do require that masks be worn in most indoor public places, with some exceptions. Click here to read the official public health order. All in-person Space Grant attendees will be asked to wear masks while indoors during official meeting business, except when speaking or presenting. As of September 23, almost 89% of Teton County residents have received at least one COVID vaccination dose and 75% of residents have been fully vaccinated, by far the highest percentage in Wyoming and one of the highest rates in the country.
We look forward to seeing you in wonderful Wyoming this fall!
#SGFallMeeting2021 #SpaceGrantGoesWest #WyomingRendezvous